Instructor Class Description

Close Readings in Theory

Close readings of a specific work, author, artist, or body of work.

Class description

Close Readings: The Philosophy of Gilles Deleuze

Immanence, process, becoming-woman, becoming-animal, rhizomatics, schizoanalysis - all concepts associated with name ‚ÄúDeleuze.‚Ä? These are immensely popular theoretical frameworks for thinking, among other things, political, social, biological, geological, aesthetic phenomena. And yet, it was only a little more than a decade ago that Deleuzian philosophy was considered too transgressive, too chaotic, too transdisiplinary to be taken seriously in the American academic context.

While Deleuze‚Äôs work is far more accepted now than it once was, his concepts are as exhilarating as they are difficult to understand. This seminar-style course offers close readings of Deleuze‚Äôs single-authored and co-authored (with Felix Guattari) works with the goal of providing an accessible introduction to some of his main philosophical concepts. To this end, we will be reading works from all of the major periods of his thought. Reading is likely to be drawn from: Nietzsche and Philosophy, Bergsonism, Difference and Repetition, A Thousand Plateaus, Cinema 2, The Fold, What is Philosophy?

Student learning goals

General method of instruction

Recommended preparation

Class assignments and grading

The information above is intended to be helpful in choosing courses. Because the instructor may further develop his/her plans for this course, its characteristics are subject to change without notice. In most cases, the official course syllabus will be distributed on the first day of class.
Last Update by Adam Nocek
Date: 11/20/2012

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Modified:April 23, 2014